| |
| |
|
Marketing Resource Center |
|
|
|
How Testimonials Can Put You in the Spotlight
If you need evidence that a testimonial or referral can help you, let me tell you a personal story: My friend Dave raved about his boss all the time. "She knows I'm still in school," he said, "so she always asks about my schedule." "She's really smart, too," he added. "The company wants to promote her, but she keeps telling them she really trained to teach. She's just waiting for a job opening." "Hey," I stopped him, "if she's so great, why don't you take her out?" "Nah," he said. "She's too old for me." "So, how old is she?" I shot back. "30?40?more?" "Nope?she's 23. That's about right for you. Want me to get you a date with her?" Not wanting to appear desperate - which I was -- I hesitated, then said, "I guess that's OK. How about tomorrow?" Well, he set us up. Did the date work out? I guess so. Twenty-plus years later we're still happily married. Bottom line: I'm amazed, bewildered, and confused that companies don't use testimonials - or appropriate anecdotes - more often than they do. I'm also surprised that when somebody sends me a resume', it sometimes leaves out a list of references. Potential customers - or employers - want to know what you can do well. The endorsement of another person who knows and works with you can mean a lot. Rix Quinn writes a weekly syndicated humor column, and serves as a writing consultant to schools, colleges, and business groups. For more details on testimonials, see Chapter 3 of Rix's book "Words That Stick." It's available from you local bookstore, or http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580085768/qid/
MORE RESOURCES:
Marketing - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Business Cards that Make Them CALL How would you use business cards for gift certificates?I asked at the beginning of this chapter "How many business cards do you need?" and answered that you only need one. Even though this is true when you are trying to form business relationships, it is not true when it comes to promoting your business. 20 Power Marketing Tips Use these powerful yet simple tips from the national best-seller, "Secrets of Power Marketing: Promote Brand You" - the first guide to personal marketing for non-marketers.Create and grant an annual award. The Biggest Problem With Your Marketing Is...? What is the biggest problem most marketers have? Who knows. We don't, and they certainly don't either. Using Demographic Data For Your Direct Mail Marketing Campaign Targeting high potential markets with a direct mail marketing campaign can be a very affordable and efficient way to get new customers for most companies and entrepreneurs but how can you find a way to reach those high potential markets? Using demographic data could be your solution.In the United States, demographic data is easy to get through the US Census Bureau website. Read Your Markets Mind - 3 Great Market Research Resources Starting a new online business, developing a new product,launching a new marketing campaign, buying advertisingcan all depend on how well you are able to research yourmarket.All business is based on demand. Testing Your Way To Prosperity I have always enjoyed talking to a Realtor friend of mine about his Father-in-laws business. His business is Gold Mining and he has been involved in it full time for nearly his whole life. The Advantages of Full Color Brochure Printing A brochure can be a great promotional tool, whether it is for is a real estate listing, a trade show handout, a data sheet, or another application. The most professional and eye-catching brochures are usually those that are full color. How to Handle Jargon at Your Web Site - and Why If you sell a technical product or service, you probably know you have jargon at your web site - specialized terminology that the average person doesn't understand. While jargon does help you communicate precisely withpeers, it seriously gets in the way if potential and actualcustomers aren't as conversant with it as you are. Dramatically Improve Your Marketing Results With These 6 Simple Steps What if there were things you could start doing now that could help you to market more successfully in the future? Even if you didn't have your marketing act together over the past year. Well, there are. How To Choose a Qualitative Research Market Qualitative research, whether individual interviews, in-homes, focus groups, ethnographies and the like are conducted all over the world, as everyone knows. But how are the markets to be studied selected in the first place?New York, London, Paris, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, Boston and Dallas are all great places to see first rate entertainment, dine out and by their size, must be great places in which to conduct qualitative research or so the common thinking goes. How to Get the Right Clients and Avoid the Wrong Ones If you are like most service professionals and small business owners one of your primary concerns is generating as many leads as possible. And that may be your biggest mistake, resulting in wasting time on unqualified prospects and working with too many clients you wish you didn't have to. Whats In It For Me? Sometimes, one of the most difficult things to teach beginning sales professionals is the difference between features and benefits. All too frequently, sales people list their product or service features, without articulating how those features will ultimately benefit that prospect or customer. Three Ways to Put Fresh Spins on Old Marketing Concepts Are you struggling to find a new twist for old advertising or marketing campaigns? If you're a small business owner or a copywriter/coach/other creative professional, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Having to come up with new ideas for a long-term client (or even your own business) can be overwhelming. Getting Into Marketing Momentum ... The Accelerated Way GETTING INTO MARKETING MOMENTUM: The 5 Power Principles for Getting Your Business into High GearDo you know the #1 reason why most businesses fail and why you could become a fatal statistic as well?The answer is .. A Successful Solution: 10 Things to Consider A provocation for the coming year, decade, century or millennium.By now, you've set a working direction for the year, established clear-cut objectives. Marketing Is A Long-Term Investment "Dig your well before you're thirsty" is the title of a wonderful book by Harvey Mackay. It is smart advice for investing your money, "Save your money before you need it", or growing your business, "Market today for tomorrow". Writing A Marketing Strategy It is my belief that if anyone is to suceed in any type of business then the business needs to be marketed to it's target consumers in an effective manner. In order to do this effectively rather than in an ad hoc, probably expensive, manner I propose the construction of a marketing plan. A Quick Guide To Finding Reciprocal Links Trading reciprocal links is one of the best ways to build traffic at your website. A reciprocal link is where two websites agree to host a link to each other on their websites. Six Essential Principles for Marketing to Women Business Owners Marketing to women entrepreneurs is not difficult. You just have to follow six easy, but essential, principles. Ten Amazing Ways To Increase Attraction at a Trade Show These ideas are for anyone that has a small budget to work with or is just starting to expand into exhibiting at trade shows. You can even use these tips and techniques whenever you are speaking or presenting -- at Toastmasters, delivering workshops -- or even eLearning activities.
|
| home | site map | Advertising Articles |
| © 2006 |
